Study of subterranean biodiversity of the upper Neretva River catchment in Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Dinarides in the Western Balkans host a globally exceptional subterranean biodiversity, but still areas remain with little or no data on subterranean species. In this work, we present the study of subterranean fauna in the upper Neretva River catchment (Eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina), which in...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
University of Ljubljana Press (Založba Univerze v Ljubljani)
2023-12-01
|
| Series: | Natura Sloveniae |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://journals.uni-lj.si/NaturaSloveniae/article/view/17233 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832582429045424128 |
|---|---|
| author | Maja Zagmajster Ester Premate Špela Borko Behare Rexhepi Vojo Milanović Anton Brancelj Michaela Brojer Christophe Douady Josef Grego Milica Jovanović Florian Malard Nataša Mori Vladimir Pešić |
| author_facet | Maja Zagmajster Ester Premate Špela Borko Behare Rexhepi Vojo Milanović Anton Brancelj Michaela Brojer Christophe Douady Josef Grego Milica Jovanović Florian Malard Nataša Mori Vladimir Pešić |
| author_sort | Maja Zagmajster |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
The Dinarides in the Western Balkans host a globally exceptional subterranean biodiversity, but still areas remain with little or no data on subterranean species. In this work, we present the study of subterranean fauna in the upper Neretva River catchment (Eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina), which included the first systematic exploration of the interstitial habitats in the country. During the five-day »Neretva Science Week« in the summer of 2022, we sampled six gravel bars, six springs and one cave. We gathered 268 records (taxon-locality-date) of 116 taxa, with 35 records referring to 27 terrestrial taxa. Nine terrestrial taxa were sampled in a cave, while 19 were found in aquatic samples, mostly from springs. 27 taxa were identified as obligate subterranean (troglobiotic) species, one terrestrial beetle from the cave, and 26 aquatic species, belonging to water mites, snails, and crustaceans. Eight of the aquatic troglobionts present the potential for new species to science. Of the latter, four species were distinguished based on morphology: two species of snails from the families Hydrobiidae and Moitessieriidae, one representative of Ostracoda and one Copepoda. Individuals of the aquatic troglobiotic isopods and amphipods were analysed molecularly, and based on molecular differences, two new species within the genus Proasellus and two within the genus Niphargus were proposed. Further work on all these taxa is needed for the formal descriptions of the new species to science. Despite the short study period, we have shown that the area is rich in endemic groundwater fauna. The hydroelectric power plant constructions planned in the region threaten groundwater communities by altering subterranean habitats and their connectivity. Further studies are needed to properly highlight the great diversity of the subterranean habitats of the Neretva River catchment and its wider region, and to include this knowledge in conservation strategies.
|
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-22d837661ce4412292fa4e7dbd470351 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1580-0814 1854-3081 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | University of Ljubljana Press (Založba Univerze v Ljubljani) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Natura Sloveniae |
| spelling | doaj-art-22d837661ce4412292fa4e7dbd4703512025-01-29T20:47:05ZengUniversity of Ljubljana Press (Založba Univerze v Ljubljani)Natura Sloveniae1580-08141854-30812023-12-0125310.14720/ns.25.3.91-110Study of subterranean biodiversity of the upper Neretva River catchment in Bosnia and HerzegovinaMaja Zagmajster0Ester Premate1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9388-1454Špela Borko2Behare Rexhepi3Vojo Milanović4Anton Brancelj5Michaela Brojer6Christophe Douady7Josef Grego8Milica Jovanović9Florian Malard10Nataša Mori11Vladimir Pešić12University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Biology, SubBioLab, Večna pot 111, SI-1000 LjubljanaUniversity of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Biology, SubBioLab, Večna pot 111, SI-1000 LjubljanaUniversity of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Biology, SubBioLab, Večna pot 111, SI-1000 LjubljanaUniversity of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Biology, SubBioLab, Večna pot 111, SI-1000 LjubljanaCentre for karst and speleology, Branilaca Sarajeva 30, 71 000 SarajevoNational Institute of Biology, Department of Organisms and Ecosystems Research, Večna pot 121, SI-1000 LjubljanaNatural History Museum of Vienna, Burgring 7, 1010 ViennaUniv Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, ENTPE, UMR 5023 Lehna, VilleurbanneUniversity of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Biology, SubBioLab, Večna pot 111, SI-1000 LjubljanaDepartment of Biology, University of Montenegro, Cetinjski put bb, 81000 PodgoricaUniv Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, ENTPE, UMR 5023 Lehna, VilleurbanneNational Institute of Biology, Department of Organisms and Ecosystems Research, Večna pot 121, SI-1000 LjubljanaDepartment of Biology, University of Montenegro, Cetinjski put bb, 81000 Podgorica The Dinarides in the Western Balkans host a globally exceptional subterranean biodiversity, but still areas remain with little or no data on subterranean species. In this work, we present the study of subterranean fauna in the upper Neretva River catchment (Eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina), which included the first systematic exploration of the interstitial habitats in the country. During the five-day »Neretva Science Week« in the summer of 2022, we sampled six gravel bars, six springs and one cave. We gathered 268 records (taxon-locality-date) of 116 taxa, with 35 records referring to 27 terrestrial taxa. Nine terrestrial taxa were sampled in a cave, while 19 were found in aquatic samples, mostly from springs. 27 taxa were identified as obligate subterranean (troglobiotic) species, one terrestrial beetle from the cave, and 26 aquatic species, belonging to water mites, snails, and crustaceans. Eight of the aquatic troglobionts present the potential for new species to science. Of the latter, four species were distinguished based on morphology: two species of snails from the families Hydrobiidae and Moitessieriidae, one representative of Ostracoda and one Copepoda. Individuals of the aquatic troglobiotic isopods and amphipods were analysed molecularly, and based on molecular differences, two new species within the genus Proasellus and two within the genus Niphargus were proposed. Further work on all these taxa is needed for the formal descriptions of the new species to science. Despite the short study period, we have shown that the area is rich in endemic groundwater fauna. The hydroelectric power plant constructions planned in the region threaten groundwater communities by altering subterranean habitats and their connectivity. Further studies are needed to properly highlight the great diversity of the subterranean habitats of the Neretva River catchment and its wider region, and to include this knowledge in conservation strategies. https://journals.uni-lj.si/NaturaSloveniae/article/view/17233troglobiontProasellusNiphargusKerkiaPaladilhiopsisTyphlocypris |
| spellingShingle | Maja Zagmajster Ester Premate Špela Borko Behare Rexhepi Vojo Milanović Anton Brancelj Michaela Brojer Christophe Douady Josef Grego Milica Jovanović Florian Malard Nataša Mori Vladimir Pešić Study of subterranean biodiversity of the upper Neretva River catchment in Bosnia and Herzegovina Natura Sloveniae troglobiont Proasellus Niphargus Kerkia Paladilhiopsis Typhlocypris |
| title | Study of subterranean biodiversity of the upper Neretva River catchment in Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| title_full | Study of subterranean biodiversity of the upper Neretva River catchment in Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| title_fullStr | Study of subterranean biodiversity of the upper Neretva River catchment in Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| title_full_unstemmed | Study of subterranean biodiversity of the upper Neretva River catchment in Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| title_short | Study of subterranean biodiversity of the upper Neretva River catchment in Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| title_sort | study of subterranean biodiversity of the upper neretva river catchment in bosnia and herzegovina |
| topic | troglobiont Proasellus Niphargus Kerkia Paladilhiopsis Typhlocypris |
| url | https://journals.uni-lj.si/NaturaSloveniae/article/view/17233 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT majazagmajster studyofsubterraneanbiodiversityoftheupperneretvarivercatchmentinbosniaandherzegovina AT esterpremate studyofsubterraneanbiodiversityoftheupperneretvarivercatchmentinbosniaandherzegovina AT spelaborko studyofsubterraneanbiodiversityoftheupperneretvarivercatchmentinbosniaandherzegovina AT beharerexhepi studyofsubterraneanbiodiversityoftheupperneretvarivercatchmentinbosniaandherzegovina AT vojomilanovic studyofsubterraneanbiodiversityoftheupperneretvarivercatchmentinbosniaandherzegovina AT antonbrancelj studyofsubterraneanbiodiversityoftheupperneretvarivercatchmentinbosniaandherzegovina AT michaelabrojer studyofsubterraneanbiodiversityoftheupperneretvarivercatchmentinbosniaandherzegovina AT christophedouady studyofsubterraneanbiodiversityoftheupperneretvarivercatchmentinbosniaandherzegovina AT josefgrego studyofsubterraneanbiodiversityoftheupperneretvarivercatchmentinbosniaandherzegovina AT milicajovanovic studyofsubterraneanbiodiversityoftheupperneretvarivercatchmentinbosniaandherzegovina AT florianmalard studyofsubterraneanbiodiversityoftheupperneretvarivercatchmentinbosniaandherzegovina AT natasamori studyofsubterraneanbiodiversityoftheupperneretvarivercatchmentinbosniaandherzegovina AT vladimirpesic studyofsubterraneanbiodiversityoftheupperneretvarivercatchmentinbosniaandherzegovina |